Kaep is still ready, willing
Report: Raiders WR Brown files grievance over helmet rule
Colin Kaepernick is eager to prove he’s good enough to play in the NFL.
A person close to Kaepernick told The Associated Press on Friday: “Colin has always been prepared to compete at the highest level and is in the best shape of his life.” The person spoke anonymously because of the confidential nature of discussions with teams.
Kaepernick, 31, hasn’t played since 2016 with the 49ers. He helped start a wave of protests about social and racial injustice that season by kneeling during the national anthem at games. He drew strong criticism from President Donald Trump.
But Trump on Friday told reporters when asked if Kaepernick should play in the NFL: “Only if he’s good enough. I know the owners, I know Bob Kraft. They will do anything they can to win games.”
Kaepernick released a video earlier this week saying: “5 a.m. 5 days a week. For 3 years. Still Ready.”
Shanahan speaks out: Niners coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t see a whole lot of value in a four-game preseason.
So with several players, including first-round draft pick Nick Bosa and running back Jerick McKinnon nursing injuries, and others such as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo coming back from one, the 49ers aren’t expected to play many front-line guys in their exhibition opener against the Cowboys on Saturday night.
“You absolutely don’t need four preseason games,” Shanahan said. “I’d rather have zero than four, preferably I’d like two. One to evaluate the people trying to make the team and then just one to knock a little rust off.”
Jones impressive: An outstanding debut by heir apparent Daniel Jones doesn’t make for a quarterback competition for the Giants, at least for now.
Coach Pat Shurmur said Jones’ perfect passing performance and touchdown throw on his only series in the 31-22 preseason victory Thursday over the rival Jets has not caused him to change his belief that 38-year-old Eli Manning is the Giants’ starting quarterback heading into the season.
Jones, the sixth pick overall in the draft, clearly had the better game, hitting all five of his passes for 67 yards. He capped his weather-shortened evening with a 12-yard pass to Bennie Fowler III in the right corner of the end zone.
“Listen, we’re not going to play the ‘what ifs,’ and I would say this: Nothing has changed,” Shurmur said. “This is the first game and I expect Daniel to play well, I expect him to go out and improve, and for the people that don’t know him, impress them.”
Extra points: Raiders WR Antonio Brown reportedly filed a grievance with the NFL over a league rule that prevents him from wearing his 10-year-old helmet . ... Browns WR Antonio Callaway was suspended without pay for the first four regularseason games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. ... The Colts are taking no chances with QB Andrew Luck. Coach Frank Reich said he expects Luck to miss at least three more practices with a strained left calf . ... The Eagles acquired DE Eli Harold from the Bills for rookie OL Ryan Bates.